Congressman Krishnamoorthi Discusses The Successful Pandemic Recovery In Oversight Hearing With Governor Pritzker

WASHINGTON – In today's House Oversight Committee hearing titled "Examining the Impact of the American Rescue Plan's State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds," Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi delivered an opening statement welcoming Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker to discuss his state's successful pandemic response. The Congressman went on to question the Governor further on the strategies used by the state to achieve its remarkable recovery while also highlighting that Governor Pritzker succeeded in eliminating the state's deficit, building a surplus, restoring the state's credit rating, expanding broadband access, and launching new initiatives to combat gun violence. During their discussion, Congressman Krishnamoorthi and Governor Pritzker also highlighted that despite some political grandstanding in opposition to state and local aid, not a single governor, Republican or Democrat, has returned the American Rescue Plan aid funding that their states received

Congressman Krishnamoorthi's opening statement is available hereand a transcript follows:

Thank you Chair Maloney. As an Illinoisian, I'm proud to introduce my governor, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, a descendant of immigrants from the Ukraine. Governor Pritzker has heralded a renaissance in Illinois's finances as well as its health and wellbeing. He's balanced the budget, he's reduced debt and pension obligations, and because of his efforts all three credit rating agencies have upgraded Illinois's credit. On top of that, during the pandemic, he led a robust vaccination program and very, very strong relief for small businesses. In short, it's a new day in Illinois and we look forward to hearing Governor Pritzker explain why. Thank you Governor Pritzker.

Congressman Krishnamoorthi's question line with Governor Pritzker follows below and the footage is available here.

Congressman Krishnamoorthi: Governor Pritzker before you became governor the state faced a $17 billion backlog of unpaid bills, correct?

Governor Pritzker: That's correct.

Congressman Krishnamoorthi: You've eliminated this backlog of bills, right?

Governor Pritzker: That's correct. Actually even before the ARPA dollars or support from the federal government.

Representative Krishnamoorthi: And before you became governor, state did not have a surplus right?

Governor Pritzker: That's correct.

Congressman Krishnamoorthi: And now you almost have a $2 billion surplus with surpluses projected for years to come right?

Governor Pritzker: Yes Sir.

Congressman Krishnamoorthi: And before you became governor the credit rating agencies downgraded Illinois credit multiple times, right?

Governor Pritzker: That's correct.

Congressman Krishnamoorthi: And now you've seen Illinois's credit upgraded at least twice, right?

Governor Pritzker: Exactly.

Congressman Krishnamoorthi: Have you seen a single governor, Republican or Democrat, return the ARPA money that their states received?

Governor Pritzker: I have not.

Congressman Krishnamoorthi: Are you aware of a single representative or senator of either party demanding that their state or local governments return any of the ARPA money that they've received?

Governor Pritzker: No.

Congressman Krishnamoorthi: Let me turn your attention to Connect Illinois for a second. This is a fascinating program that expands broadband free of charge to all K through 12 students in Illinois public schools, Right?

Governor Pritzker: Correct.

Congressman Krishnamoorthi: Why is that important?

Governor Pritzker: Well, as we all saw during the pandemic if you were not connected it was nearly impossible to get your homework assignments or to turn in your homework assignments, or to have online classes or to connect with your teacher or a tutor. We needed to expand and speed up, there were Internet connections, and our schools are connected but many of them are slow connections. And more importantly, outside of school many people don't have a high speed connection to their homes. And so the Connect Illinois dollars both at the state level and then the dollars that we've received from the federal government really have helped us to accelerate the program that we had in place to make high speed Internet ubiquitous.

Congressman Krishnamoorthi: And indeed I think 40% of rural areas do not have access to high speed Internet and many urban connections lack high speed broadband speed so thank you for doing that. Let me talk about back to business, this B to B program that you started. Can you talk about a couple stories or at least one story where this back to business program actually made a material difference for Illinois small businesses?

Governor Pritzker: Well, I think you're aware that many restaurants and bars because there were limits to capacity that they had to adhere to in order to keep their patrons safe suffered throughout the pandemic. And there's a terrific bakery that I visited in fact, the Blackbird Bakery and Staunton IL , where a couple had started their business there it's a very popular local place. They raised their family there too, their kids are running around while they're baking in the back and serving up front, and they suffered mightily in the early days of the pandemic. They needed a little bit of help to stay on their feet and they got that, and they're back they're doing very well and the family is doing well.

Congressman Krishnamoorthi: Well, they're back to business that's exactly what the grant program envisioned. Let me talk about reimagining public safety. This is something that obviously is incredibly important to so many Americans. Can you talk a little bit about how the ARPA funds allowed you to reduce significant gaps in mental health treatment for youth and young adults who unfortunately are sometimes in the middle or in the crossfire of firearm violence?

Governor Pritzker: Let me be clear we have seen an increase in gun violence across the state in various urban environments and that's something that's happened all across the nation, I might add. But it doesn't make it any easier to know that we have to address those problems directly and putting dollars in this year and in the coming two years, as we have pledged to do, helps us to support violence interruption programs youth job programs to make sure that we're addressing the fundamentals of the causes of crime as well as our support for police training, for example, and our state troopers.

Congressman Krishnamoorthi: Thank you so much I yield back.